Media Release (update)

Hawaiʻi Island police have reclassified a coroner’s inquest case to a murder in connection with the discovery of a body Tuesday (May 28) in waters off Kalapana in the Puna District.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday (May 29) determined that the female victim died of strangulation and that the manner of death was homicide.

Police have not yet identified the body, described as that of a Caucasian woman possibly in her late 20s or early 30s, about 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-8 with a slim build, short brown hair and a tattoo of “Veritas” on her lower back.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.